A United States federal court has pushed for the release of Department of Justice, FBI and DEA records related to 1990s drug trafficking allegations linked to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, appointed by President Donald Trump, has begun steps to comply with court orders requiring the disclosure of the documents. The records concern a 1993 civil asset forfeiture case in which approximately $460,000 was seized from Tinubu’s U.S. bank accounts.
District Judge Beryl Howell granted only a four-day extension until August 21, 2026, instead of the 10 days requested by the government. The judge noted that the Freedom of Information Act case, filed by activist Aaron Greenspan in 2022 and 2023, has already been pending for more than three years.
A statement from Von Batten-Montague-York, a Republican lobbying firm retained by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, confirmed that the process of compliance has started. The firm said it has supplied more than 60 pages of related DOJ documents to Trump administration officials and members of Congress.
BREAKING NEWS: President @realDonaldTrump-appointed U.S. Attorney, the amazing and no-nonsense Jeanine Pirro (@USAttyPirro), has initiated action in federal court to comply with the @uscourts orders concerning the release of @TheJusticeDept, @FBI, and @DEAHQ records relating to… pic.twitter.com/TrhNL4UNID
— Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. (@batten_von) August 18, 2026
The firm emphasised that shared interests between the United States and Nigeria do not extend to supporting individuals linked to alleged drug trafficking. It expressed appreciation for what it described as renewed motivation by the Department of Justice to release the documents.
The development has drawn attention because of the high profile of the individuals involved and the long duration of the FOIA litigation. Judge Howell’s decision to limit the extension reflects the court’s impatience with further delays.
Tinubu has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with the 1990s allegations. The civil forfeiture occurred more than three decades ago and did not result in a criminal conviction. Nevertheless, the records have remained a subject of political and public interest, particularly in the context of U.S.-Nigeria relations.
The lobbying firm’s involvement highlights the intersection of American domestic politics and Nigerian electoral rivalries. Atiku Abubakar, who contested the 2023 presidential election against Tinubu, has maintained interest in the matter through his representatives in Washington.
U.S. Attorney Pirro’s office has not issued a detailed independent public statement beyond the court filings seeking additional time. The limited extension means that significant movement on the release of the documents is expected by August 21, 2026.
As the new deadline approaches, attention will focus on the volume and content of any records that are eventually disclosed. Redactions are likely, given the age of the investigation and the involvement of multiple agencies.
The matter continues to generate discussion among lawmakers, advocacy groups and members of the Nigerian diaspora. Some view the push for disclosure as a legitimate exercise in transparency, while others see it as an attempt to influence political narratives in Nigeria through selective release of decades-old materials.
President Tinubu’s administration has consistently maintained that the president has no outstanding legal issues in the United States and that the 1993 civil case was resolved long ago. Officials in Abuja have previously described renewed focus on the matter as politically motivated.
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